I am new to growing roses. Last winter I spent many hours on the internet researching old roses and trying to decide which climbers to plant around my sunny, protected, south-facing, zone 6 porch. My little house was built in the 1880's so I hope to drape it in romantic old climbers.

I finally selected the delectable Jaune Desprez and Ghislaine de Feligonde and planted them in April 2003. Both plants are quite healthy and growing well (thanks to heaps of home-grown compost.) I didn't expect anything in the way of blooms the first summer but did get a few. Both plants produced a few tiny flowers (around one inch in diameter.) I was excited to see blooms, but a bit disappointed that the bloom color of both plants was creamy white...the pink/gold that I had been looking forward to was barely visible.

I read that both of these roses change color according to the weather...does the maturity of the plant affect size and coloration...as the plants establish themselves will the golds, pinks and apricots appear? Is the color affected by the soil? If so, is there any amendment that can enhance the color? (I use organic methods only.)

Thank you for any information or suggestions for either Jaune Desprez or Ghislaine de Feligonde.

Also, I'm planning to plant another climbing rose on a nearby pillar, but want one that grows only 8 to 15 feet. I'd like a rose with similar or compatible colors that would look wonderful with the other two, but with contrasting deeper tones...either warm pink or apricot (not too orange, though.) I love flowers with a glowing, translucent quality. I'd prefer an old rose, but any rose with an old-rose look that can be grown organically would be OK... Suggestions?

Jaune is a Noisette and the nature of most Noisettes is to start out a good colour and then quickly fade. This Rambler is not known as one with strong colours and will bleach out in full sun. Only a few things effect the colour of roses, mainly full hot sunshine, cool weather (such as early spring or fall) and of course the soil according to whether it is on the acid or lime side of the scale. Age usually doesn't have too much of an effect on colour except that the flowers can be smaller and so not show as much of the shades. Ghislaine is another one that will bleach out in full sun. She starts out a beautiful shades of different colours and then quickly fades to a pale peach. The ideal situation for both of these roses is to be in an area where they get mainly morning and late afternoon sun and are sheltered from the hot overhead sun. It depends how warm your climate is but here are three climbers that do well and are really fragrant.Compassion is a very fragrant climber which has peach flowers shaded pink. Rhonda is a very full old fashion looking rose pink and is also very fragrant.Rosy Mantle is another rose climber with a strong fragrance.

I grow the climber Blossom Time. It is medium pink but the edges of the petals are a lighter silvery pink. Beautiful. Hardy to zone 5a, it grows a maximum of 15 ft. Some black spot at the end of summer. I love it in my 7b zone, NY. Good luck.Jackie13

I have tried to get Jaune Dezprez from all these sellers. None of them have it. One offered twice to grow it. Going on two years and still no rose. I had this rose growing in my garden in southern california and it was such a delight.I don't understand why no one grows it.

[... it appears to be the result of a seed of the Bengal-Bourbon, pollinated by a Noisette rose. M. Desprez , however, has given no information in this regard; but the plant's carriage and vigor are reminiscent of a Bourbon, while the flower resembles a Noisette, and the whole is what is called a hybrid.]